General Stanley McChrystal, US commander in Afghanistan, has said the military is tightening restrictions on airstrikes. But rules get muddied in the chaos of battle. The US is claiming that the rockets shot that morning were aimed at men on motorcycles carrying jugs possibly filled with explosives, but those excuses don’t mean much to the people of Kowuk.

The UN reported last week that 1,013 civilians died in the first half of 2009, up 24% from the same period in 2008. July was also the deadliest month for US troops since the invasion in 2001. With military advisers considering asking for even more troops in Afghanistan, this trend is only going to get worse. Increased civilian casualties make things less stable and serve as a recruiting tool for extremists.

The outraged cries of Afghans are not reaching the halls of Congress. We must raise our voices and demand accountability for these tragic mistakes. Write your letters now.